The increasing sales of Android devices around the world have opened up new avenues for the OS. According to a SMH.com report, Android could play an important role in company networks. The sudden surge of popularity Android has received recently has led industry experts to believe that companies will now integrate their closed networks to Google’s open source operating system. Despite being one of the most popular operating systems in the world, Android’s compatibility in the corporate setting has been under scrutiny. One of the biggest concerns surrounding an open network like Android is security.
Security Concerns Faced by Android
Security concerns for Android devices arise as they are being customized more frequently. Unlike Apple, Google does not control all features of Android devices and allows others to make modifications. Being an open source platform, the Android Market is flooded with malware. As several apps are available on platforms other than Google Android Market, cases of malware have been on the rise. It is estimated that malware on Android platforms had increased by over 470% and mostly originated from other platforms offering Android apps. Several smartphone games were also removed by Google after the detection of a contained code that affected SIM users in Europe.
BYO (Build Your Own) Android on the Rise
Many digital security consultants find the fragment-like nature of the Android platform to be the biggest obstacle. The operating system itself is considered to be of high quality but its fragmented nature is difficult to be monitored by Google. Unlike Apple, the hardware of Android devices is designed, manufactured and maintained by different companies. This makes it difficult to integrate updates and security on a timely basis. This diversity makes it difficult for managers and employees to run their company on handheld devices. Google does not control or screen all the apps that are distributed for Android devices. A technology course in Android training will help keep your skills current.
Apple’s iOS v Google’s Android
While Apple’s control over its products and apps make it easier for updates and integration, Android device users enjoy a lot more freedom. This results in a Linux-like environment where not all devices are of the same version, making integrating a challenging process. Despite the security concerns raised by many within the industry, some experts claim that popular security vendors are effectively supporting Android. As they are mostly larger security companies, it is safe to assume that they provide quality security. Implementing additional security measures is also recommended for Android than other operating systems.
Current Implementation of Android
If you have decided to take up Android training classes, you will learn that Android provides better access to kernel and other low level components and facilitates greater flexibility. iOS on the other hand, is a limited ecosystem where all components have to make their way through the inspection process. Android’s latest version – Ice Cream Sandwich – provides security by safekeeping sensitive data in an encrypted form. Google reveals that this implementation of the operating system will soon be revealed through open source to accommodate further development in the Android community that is further understood in Google’s Android training courses. Currently, employees are allowed to bring their Android devices to access company data by including security measures like multi-level passwords and locking systems to ensure optimal security.
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